Derin Lara Erdogan | Tennis Player (2012, Turkey)

“My dream is to become a professional tennis player and compete in Grand Slams.”

Derin Lara Erdogan is a Turkish junior tennis player born in 2012 and currently based in Barcelona, Spain. Competing in the U14 category, she is building her experience on the Tennis Europe circuit, where she has already reached two doubles finals and continues to pursue a place among the top European players.

Through Tennis Papers, discover an exclusive profile and interview highlighting her tennis journey, playing style, competitive experience, and ambitions.

This profile is based on an exclusive interview conducted by Tennis Papers.

👧 Derin Lara Erdogan | Biography, March 2026

Full Name	Derin Lara Erdogan
Date of birth	September 2012
Nationality	Turkish 🇹🇷
Residence	Barcelona, Spain
Age started tennis	6
Tennis age category	U14
National ranking
Tennis Europe ranking	#180 (best) U14
Tennis club	Barcelona Tennis Academy
Coaches
Sponsors
Instagram	@derin_lara_tennis

Derin Lara Erdogan tennis player 2012 Turkey — Derin Lara Erdogan | Tennis Player (2012, Turkey) 🇹🇷

🎙️ Derin Lara Erdogan | Interview, March 2026

Hello, introduce yourself please.
My name is Derin Lara Erdogan. I was born in September 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey. I am Turkish and I currently live in Barcelona, Spain.
What languages do you speak?
I speak Turkish and English fluently, and I am currently learning Spanish.
At what age did you start playing tennis?
I started playing tennis when I was 6 years old.
Are there other tennis players in your family?
No, I am the only tennis player in my family.
In which club do you train?
I train at Barcelona Tennis Academy.
Who are your coaches?
I work with my tennis coach and a fitness coach, and I focus on improving my physical and mental performance.
What is your weekly training routine?
I train five days a week. My routine includes on-court practice, physical conditioning, and match play.
What is your greatest strength as a player, and what do you need to improve?
My greatest strength is that I truly love playing tennis and I enjoy competing. I work hard every day to improve my game and become a better player.
What is your age category and your national ranking?
I compete in the U14 category. I currently do not have a Turkish national ranking because I am not playing national tournaments in Turkey. My current Tennis Europe ranking is 209.
What have been your greatest successes so far?
One of my biggest achievements is reaching two doubles finals in Tennis Europe tournaments. In previous years, I also won several national tournaments in Turkey.
In which countries have you played tournaments?
I have competed in tournaments in Spain, Turkey, Romania, Serbia and other European countries. I have gained valuable international experience by playing across Europe.
Do you have any sponsors?
Currently, I do not have sponsors, but I hope to collaborate with sponsors in the future as I continue developing my career.
What is your goal for 2026?
My goal for 2026 is to improve my ranking and become Top 10 in Tennis Europe in my category.
What is your tennis dream?
My dream is to become a professional tennis player and compete in Grand Slams.
Who are your favorite tennis players?
My favorite tennis player is Elena Rybakina. I admire her calm mentality and powerful game.
What do you enjoy outside of tennis?
Outside of tennis, I enjoy swimming and spearfishing. I also love listening to music. I used to ski before focusing fully on tennis.
Who would you like to dedicate this interview to?
I would like to dedicate this interview to my family and coaches who always support and believe in me.